Orillia Fire Department | City of Orillia

The Orillia Fire Department (OFD) is dedicated to protecting lives, property and the environment. Founded in 1875, our team has provided emergency response, fire prevention, and public fire safety education to the City of Orillia for over 150-years.

As a composite department, the OFD brings together a team of career and volunteer firefighters, communicators, fire prevention staff, and administrative professionals led by the Fire Chief and Deputy Fire Chief. Working out of two fire stations, our team responds to a wide range of emergencies including fires, medical incidents, rescues, hazardous material situations, and natural disasters.

Beyond emergency response, we are committed to building a safer community through fire inspections, prevention programs, emergency preparedness, and public education initiatives.

By working closely with residents, businesses, and community partners, we strive to reduce risks and raise awareness for overall community safety.

Message from the Chiefs

On behalf of the Orillia Fire Department, we are proud to serve and protect the City of Orillia. Our team is committed to delivering the highest level of safety, professionalism, teamwork, and service through fire protection, emergency response, and public education.

We work closely with our community partners, neighbouring municipalities, and residents to promote prevention, preparedness, and resilience. Through ongoing training, planning, and community engagement, the OFD strives to ensure we are ready to respond when it matters most.

We would like to recognize and thank our dedicated firefighters, communicators, volunteers and staff, whose commitment and professionalism make this work possible every day.

We encourage all residents to take an active role in fire safety and emergency preparedness, because a safer community is a shared responsibility.

Together, we can build a safer and stronger City of Orillia.

Sincerely,
Chief Ferry and Deputy Chief Noganosh

Chris Ferry

Fire Chief

Ashley Noganosh

Deputy Fire Chief

Fire stations

The Orillia Fire Department operates two stations strategically located to provide efficient emergency response across the City. Station 1 and Station 2 are staffed by highly trained personnel and equipped with the resources needed to protect lives and property.

Station 1 - Headquarters

500 Gill St. Orillia, ON

Constructed in 2014, Station 1 serves as the main hub of the Orillia Fire Department. It houses the department’s administration offices, which operate Monday to Friday, our prevention team, and the main communications room. Both career and volunteer firefighters respond from this location, ensuring rapid emergency response across the city. Additionally, Station 1 serves as the City’s primary emergency centre, coordinating critical operations during major incidents and emergencies.

Station 2 - Substation

1 Commerce Rd. Orillia, ON

Station 2 provides essential coverage for the west end of the city, helping ensure quick and effective emergency response throughout Orillia. This station is staffed by career firefighters who are ready to respond to fires, medical calls, rescues, and other emergencies at a moment’s notice.

Book a station tour

Our station tours offer residents, schools, and community groups the opportunity to explore fire apparatus, learn about firefighting equipment, receive fire safety tips, and see firsthand how our crews train and respond to emergencies.

Tours are available by appointment for all ages. Book a tour today and experience the work behind keeping Orillia safe!

Request to book a station tour

Firefighter Recruitment

The Orillia Fire Department recruits both career and volunteer firefighters as needed. Career firefighter positions are filled through a formal hiring process, while volunteer firefighters are selected from an eligibility list created during open recruitment periods.

Candidates who are interested in becoming a volunteer firefighter, must live in the City of Orillia or within 10 minutes of the city boundary. Those who successfully complete the selection process are placed on the eligibility list for future volunteer opportunities.

When recruitment opportunities are available, they will be advertised on the City of Orillia employment opportunities.

File search and incident report

File searches are available for property owners, real estate transactions, insurance purposes, and legal or compliance needs.

These services can help verify fire safety compliance, review past inspections, and provide official documentation of Fire Department activities related to a specific property.

To submit a request, you must:

Provide authorization: a copy of the purchase agreement providing permission to release property information, or a letter from the current owner granting permission.
Contact the Orillia Fire Department at ofd@orillia.ca with the property address, type of request, and attach your authorization.

Incident reports may also be requested for Fire Department responses, including fires and motor vehicle collisions. Contact the department for guidance on requesting an incident report.

Both file search and incident report requests are subject to a fee, which will be confirmed once the request has been reviewed.

Request a file search

False alarms

The False Alarm By-law helps reduce unnecessary emergency responses.

False alarms can result from system malfunctions, poor maintenance, user error, or malicious intent. Property owners who receive more than two warnings within a one-year period will be charged for repeated false alarms. Failure to notify the Fire Department prior to alarm testing will result in an automatic charge.

Property owners are responsible for ensuring alarm systems are properly installed, maintained, and used. Regular servicing and user training are strongly recommended.

Fees are outlined in the User Fees By-law.

User fees

The Orillia Fire Department will charge fees for services including inspections, false alarms, environmental spills, gas leaks, hazardous materials clean-up, motor vehicle collisions, fire watch, fire reports and file searches, fire extinguisher training and fit testing, and structure fires.

All applicable services and fees can be found in the User Fees By-law.

911 and Fire Dispatching

For over 60 years, the Orillia Fire Department has been a trusted leader in fire dispatching, serving as Ontario’s only fire-based 9-1-1 Primary Public Service Answering Point (PSAP). Our award-winning communicators provide 9-1-1 call-taking and fire dispatch services 24/7 for the City of Orillia and neighbouring communities.

Our primary communications centre is located at Station 1 and our backup dispatch centre is located at Station 2. Both sites are equipped with modern technology, including Next-Generation 9-1-1 systems. The Communications Division ensures calls are answered quickly, accurately, and without interruption. With decades of experience and ongoing training, our team connects residents with the right emergency services every time.

Interested in contracting our dispatching services? Contact us today